tood
As in the mountains, conscious of his force,
The wild boar waits a coming multitude
Of boisterous hunters to his lone retreat;
Arching his bristly spine he stands, his eyes 580
Beam fire, and whetting his bright tusks, he burns
To drive, not dogs alone, but men to flight;
So stood the royal Cretan, and fled not,
Expecting brave AEneas; yet his friends
He summon'd, on Ascalaphus his eyes 585
Fastening, on Aphareus, Deipyrus,
Meriones, and Antilochus, all bold
In battle, and in accents wing'd exclaim'd.
Haste ye, my friends! to aid me, for I stand
Alone, nor undismay'd the coming wait 590
Of swift AEneas, nor less brave than swift,
And who possesses fresh his flower of youth,
Man's prime advantage; were we match'd in years
As in our spirits, either he should earn
At once the meed of deathless fame, or I. 595
He said; they all unanimous approach'd,
Sloping their shields, and stood. On the other side
His aids AEneas call'd, with eyes toward
Paris, Deiphobus, Agenor, turn'd,
His fellow-warriors bold; them follow'd all 600
Their people as the pastured flock the ram
To water, by the shepherd seen with joy;
Such joy AEneas felt, seeing, so soon,
That numerous host attendant at his call.
Then, for Alcathoues, into contest close 605
Arm'd with long spears they rush'd; on every breast
Dread rang the brazen corselet, each his foe
Assailing opposite; but two, the rest
Surpassing far, terrible both as Mars,
AEneas and Idomeneus, alike 610
Panted to pierce each other with the spear.
AEneas, first, cast at Idomeneus,
But, warn'd, he shunn'd the weapon, and it pass'd.
Quivering in the soil AEneas' lance
Stood, hurl'd in vain, though by a forceful arm. 615
Not so the Cretan; at his waist he pierced
Oenomaues, his hollow corselet clave,
And in his midmost bowels drench'd the spear;
Down fell the Chief, and dying, clench'd the dust.
Instant, his massy spear the King of Crete 620
Pluck'd from the dead, but of his radiant arms
Despoil'd him not, by numerous weapons urged;
For now, time-worn, he could no longer make
Brisk sally, spring to follow his own spear,
Or shun another, or by swift retreat 625